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QW mayor optimistic about hub

Luke Hendry/Intelligencer file photo
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison says environmental remediation of this southern portion of land owned by Quinte Health Care, shown Tuesday, September 19, 2017, could cost less than $3,000 if the section were to be severed from the more contaminated portion of the lot next to Trenton Memorial Hospital (background) in Trenton. Harrison has also pledged the city's aid in remediation so that the Trenton Community Health Hub could be built there.

More details about the remediation costs for a possible health hub site in Trenton as a decision on where to build draws closer.

Plans for creating the multi-agency hub had been focusing on a Catherine Street property owned by Quinte Health Care (QHC) and across the street from its Trenton Memorial Hospital.

That changed early this month, when Paul Huras, chief executive officer of the South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), said remediation may cause unnecessary delays and costs. Cleanup had been estimated at $760,000.

But Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison said Wednesday remediating only the south portion – where the hub’s first phase would be built – could cost less than $5,000.

And on Thursday, he added more details – sweetening the price even further by pegging it at “far less than $3,000.”

The difference between the lower costs and the $760,000, he said, hinges upon environmental assessments.

A summer study commissioned by QHC was based upon more stringent standards than what would be needed if the hub portion were severed from the more contaminated north end, Harrison said.

Once severed, he said, “It would fit into the residential category.”

The hub fits the criteria for residential zoning, Harrison said.

“We’re not doing anything that’s not copacetic.”

He said remediating the northern section could cost about $300,000.

“We don’t even think it would be that much … It’s easily remediated.”

The hub concept, however, would not place a structure upon that section for 25 to 30 years, when it’s proposed a new hospital could be built there.

Harrison said the much lower remediation costs are based upon a meeting held last week between officials of the LHIN, QHC, City of Quinte West and the Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Centre, which would occupy the largest portion of the new hub’s space.

The LHIN’s Huras and QHC community relations manager said the comparatively bargain-basement cleanup costs were news to them.

“This is important information,” Huras said Thursday. “I’m trying to verify those numbers.”

If the full remediation fee could be so low, he said, “That’s small potatoes.

“It’s a huge deal,” Huras added.

He said he’s still unlikely to make his final decision on the hub’s location. It’s a choice between Catherine Street and the Community Health Centre property on Murphy Street. Huras said he may decide next week.

“I’d rather take a week extra than get into it and find it’s going to take six months, 12 months to do the remediation,” he said.

The environmental report from QHC’s consultants was about 1,000 pages long and packed with technical and scientific detail.

“I give the mayor credit for coming to me and saying, ‘You’re not technical … We should get someone to help us understand that,’” Huras said.

He said he’s now seeking clarification on a few points and is seeking advice of the capital branch of Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, staff of which will make the final decision on the hub’s location.

“We’re going to be able to make the right decisions,” Huras said, adding he just needs to ensure his recommendation to the ministry can be supported with accurate data.

Mike Cowan, chairman of the Our TMH advocacy group, said Wednesday his group is concerned the other site on Murphy Street is too small for a hub.

“It would be successful – and then it would run out of room,” he said, estimating the lot’s size as being equivalent to “basically four city residential lots.”

Huras said that isn’t, however, likely to be a problem.

“Once you build these things you’re probably not going to grow the site. The next step would be looking at other sites,” he said.

He also said he has heard of – but not yet seen – an analysis suggesting a hub on Murphy Street could be expanded to four storeys.

In the meantime, QHC has begun working to clean up the Catherine Street property.

The board had already approved some limited remediation: fencing around the perimeter and paving unpaved sections.

“We anticipate within the next few months that will be done,” said QHC’s Catherine Walker.

She said the board has approved the site for use by the hub, though only in principle.

“We would prefer the Community Health Hub be built beside the hospital,” said Walker.

“We completely understand this is the decision of the South East LHIN,” she said. Huras’ recommended site will be submitted to the ministry for final approval.

But Walker, like the mayor, said QHC will remain supportive regardless of the location chosen.

“The most important part in this is that the hub proceed and we will remain partners in that process,” she said.